AN: Wow, this is this official tenth chapter of Encounter with Embers, since the teaser/trailer really doesn't count. Big shout out to those who have loyally read this story and have commented. I really do appreciate feedback, and I understand this story is not popular because it doesn't have the 'usual' couples like KataraxZuko, SokkaxSuki, TophxAang, and etc. Oh well, that's life! But, I am working on a story called the Gains of Enmity which will feature the more normal couples that I just mentioned…or will it? You'll have to read and find out! So stay tuned for Gains of Enmity, coming soon to fanfiction . net! And for now, enjoy Encounter with Embers!
Encounter with Embers
IROH WAS PLEASED to see that Toph was joining him for his afternoon tea. Not only that, but she had brought a friend with her as well. He watched the young Water Tribe man sit down and quietly sip his tea. The normally loud and sarcastic boy had been greatly quieted by his grief. Iroh took a sip of his jasmine tea and sighed softly. This war had been unkind to all involved…
His interest piqued when Zuko bowed before Sokka.
"Sokka, I just want to tell you how deeply sorry I am for my mistake…I have done you wrong." Zuko voice was muffled into his arms, and Sokka looked rather surprised.
He hadn't realized that the Fire Nation boy had blamed himself for Suki's demise. Sokka had assumed that he was merely sympathetic to Sokka's pain.
"Zuko…get up." He placed a hand atop of Zuko's unruly hair and the prostrate boy lifted his head cautiously. He remained silent, waiting for the Water boy to speak. "It's not your fault. Nor is it Mai's, Ty Lee's, or Suki herself. It's Azula's." he said softly.
Zuko looked slightly relieved, and Sokka continued: "You also have grievances against Azula…I'm sure that, together, we can defeat her?"
Zuko smiled. "Yes, I think so." He was glad that Sokka held no grudge against him.
Sokka nodded and raised his cup of tea. Zuko picked up his, and their cups clinked together in their mutual agreement.
Toph chuckled, nudging Iroh, and both boys were snapped out of their camaraderie. They laughed nervously and went back to drinking their tea.
A comfortable silence fell upon them, and they drank their tea.
Until a gust of wind violently blew Sokka into Zuko's lap. Both yelped in surprise, and the wind blew Sokka once more into Zuko, their lips colliding almost painfully.
Both boys nearly screamed and jumped away from one another. Toph silently wondered what was happening, and Iroh wasn't sure what to say or think.
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked, panicked.
"I swear, it wasn't me!" Sokka protested, waving his hands in front of him, as if to physically defend himself against his actions.
Another gale of wind came, this time pushing Zuko on top of Sokka. Zuko blushed furiously at the younger boy he was straddling. "Sokka, you're right, it's not us!"
Another breeze flattened the poor Water Boy underneath the weight of the banished prince. And giggled were heard from the hallway. Sokka and Zuko glanced at one another, grinned, and stalked out to the hallway to find Jet and Aang laughing at the awkward situation the two teenagers had experienced.
The laughter instantly died and the two mischief making boys went pale. Zuko began shooting bolts of fire and Sokka hurled his boomerang. Aang continued giggling as he and Jet ran away from the attacking boys.
Iroh decided to ignore the entire incident and Toph's confused questions.
JET REGRETTED PULLING that prank with Aang. Not only did he get smacked upside his head with a boomerang, but his pants got lit on fire. And Ty Lee found him because of the commotion.
He lost Aang, since he had been trying to flee Ty Lee. And she was rapidly gaining on him.
This wasn't turning out to be a good day.
ZUKO RETREATED TO his bedroom after the whole kissing-Sokka-and-kicking-the-crap-out-of-Aang-and-Jet incident. To his surprise, he found Mai resting peacefully in their ornate bed. His features softened and he sat beside her, touching her porcelain skin.
She awoke, startled, than relaxed when she saw her lover. "Hi."
"I thought you were catching up with Ty Lee?" Zuko asked, slightly perplexed.
Mai laughed softly. "She got distracted by Jet."
Zuko arched a brow. "He likes her?"
"Not really. It's actually the other way around." Mai answered, amused.
Zuko laughed. "I almost feel sorry for him. That's punishment enough for what he did to me today."
Now it was Mai's turn to arch her brow. "What did he do to you?"
Zuko fought a grin, and took Mai's hands in his own. He wore a mask of complete seriousness. "Mai, I've kissed someone else."
Mai fought the urge to freak out. "You kissed Jet?!" she questioned incredulously.
Zuko patted her hands comfortingly. "No, honey, I kissed a different guy." He replied.
Mai pulled her hands away from Zuko's. "You kissed another guy?!"
Zuko frowned playfully. "Honey, I just told you that."
"Who?!" Mai went pale, then ran a hand through her hair. "The father of my unborn child is a homosexual…" she felt shocked.
Zuko began to laugh hysterically. "Mai, babe, it was only a joke. Aang and Jet pranked Sokka and I; they Airbended us onto one another."
Mai blinked and color returned to her face in a lovely shade of red. "Oh…so…you're not having a gay affair with Sokka?"
Zuko laughed, pulling Mai close. "Oh…the temptation. But no, there's only you."
She sighed in relief and then giggled slightly before stopping herself. Sometimes she was just so…bubbly and girly…around Zuko. She wondered what he thought of it, and looked up into his face. He was only smiling, tucking a stray hair behind her ear for her.
Then, she remembered. "I went to the palace doctor." She announced.
Zuko blinked. "Are you well?" he felt worry, suddenly, and irrationally. Oh, what love did to one's anxiety…
Mai nodded wordlessly, pressing a hand to her stomach.
Zuko's eyes widened. "Is it…?" he didn't want to speak the words, lest they come true. He had not confided in Mai his worries about the possible miscarriage of their unborn child. He felt that she had enough to worry about with her own health, and he didn't want to upset her. But he feared the worst.
Mai smiled gently. "The doctor said its fine."
He grinned widely and embraced Mai tightly. "I'm so glad." His voice was muffled into her neck and she was surprised to feel tears there as well.
She gingerly touched Zuko's ever growing mop of hair. "Zuko?"
He withdrew from her, wiping at his face, laughing in embarrassment. "Sorry…I'm just glad our baby is going to be alright…"
Mai was surprised by his emotional reaction. "I didn't know you had been so worried." She didn't think Zuko had experienced as much anxiety as she had over the issue. She remembered him asking about the baby on the agonizing trip back to Omashu, but she had lost so much blood by that point she wondered, perhaps, if she had only imagined it.
"Mai…this is our son! Of course I was worried." Ever since their conversation in the tub where Mai said she thought it'd be a boy, he had begun to think of it as so. He trusted her woman's intuition enough to believe she was right about the baby's gender. Although, at this point, he wouldn't have minded if it were a girl. So long as it was alive, healthy, and well.
Mai nodded, kissing Zuko gently. "What do you want to name him?"
Zuko bit his lip in thought. He hadn't even thought about names yet…he was still getting used to the idea that it would be a boy. "Well…" he frowned in thought.
"How about…Zuko?" Mai questioned.
He wrinkled his nose. "I'm not a narcissist."
Mai laughed. "Okay…Iroh?"
Zuko frowned softly. "My Uncle is not dead, and to name the child that might invite his death." He felt almost superstitious about it. To lose Uncle Iroh…
"Well, we should honor Iroh. For he is your true father and he's done so much…" Mai remarked thoughtfully.
"Honor the Dragon of the West…" Zuko murmured.
Mai blinked and grinned. "Long!"
Zuko laughed. "Ryuu!"
Mai giggled. "Suoh!"
Zuko blinked. "Suoh?"
Mai nodded. "Iroh…Suoh."
Zuko's features softened. "It's gentle sounding…like Uncle Iroh…"
Mai smiled. "So what do you think?"
Zuko held her close and kissed her. "It's perfect."
HARU LOOKED AMONG his troops of Earthbenders. He wanted to carefully select those who would accompany him to Ba Sing Se. Haru wanted only the best soldiers with him, for somehow in his mind, he felt that the most talented would those most likely to survive. He felt guilty about those whom had already been lost in the battle to take back Omashu.
He turned to one of his top generals who had proved himself a talented Bender and strategic genius. "Sen Su."
Sen Su nodded. "Yes, sir?"
Haru almost laughed. "No need to be so formal, Sen Su. Haru is just fine."
Sen Su, who had been fighting in the Earth Kingdom army for over a year already, bowed slightly. "I'm sorry, si-ah…Haru."
Haru chuckled. "You've more experience than me on the battlefield. Pick the men you see fit to accompany us. I want to bring two-thirds of our army. We can't leave Omashu completely disarmed."
"Of course." Sen Su answered; turning to go about completing the task he had been assigned.
Haru left Sen Su to his duties, wandering off to find Katara. She was selecting the Waterbenders she'd bring with her to Ba Sing Se, and choosing those who would stay to guard what they had already fought for.
"Hey…" he touched her shoulder, so he would not startle her.
She looked at him, a soft smile on her face. "Haru."
He shyly kissed her cheek, for he had never been one for public displays of affection.
She grinned slyly, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a rather passionate kiss. The Waterbenders present began to holler and make cat calls. Haru felt as though his entire body had gone red. Katara blushed slightly as well, but turned back to picking her desired Ba Sing Se troops. She finished her task quickly, granting her men leave.
"I want to help rebuild my people." She commented softly, stealing a glance back at her men.
"Oh?"
She hugged herself, looking at Haru with a remorseful look on her face. "My Master has gone down to the South Pole to start rebuilding…but there is much to be done…when we finish this war, I'll go down to help. And the Northern Water Tribe has lost their Princess, so they'll be looking for a new heir. Not to mention the social reforms they'll need."
"Social reforms?" Haru questioned.
She smiled ruefully. "They're very sexist…they don't allow women to Waterbend as means of fighting. I'm the first ever."
"That's quite…outdated." Haru remarked. He was so accustomed to women and men being nearly equal in every aspect, he never stopped to think that the Water Tribes weren't the same.
She sighed with a shrug. "I need to change it."
Haru looked at her, distressed. "So…then…" he wasn't quite sure what he was getting at…or what he wanted to say.
Katara looked at him expectantly.
"What about us?" he finally blurted.
She rested a hand on her hip, arching a brow suggestively. "Well, aren't you coming with me?" she said it like she expected him to, like she knew he would.
He laughed. "I guess I don't have a choice. Either I go with you, or I end up home, alone."
She frowned softly, resting her other hand on her hip. "Oh, so you don't want to go to the Water Tribes with me?" she was inviting an argument.
Haru held back a chuckle. "I do." He took her hand, kissing it delicately.
She withdrew her hand. "Good, because you didn't have a choice in the matter anyway." She huffed, walking off to attend to her packing for their journey.
Haru watched her retreating figure, unable to keep the smile off of his face. He loved that spitfire nature that Katara had. He hoped she'd always have it. He didn't mind going to the Water Tribes, as long as she'd be there with him.
SOKKA CHOSE THE men he'd lead into Ba Sing Se with care. He purposely made his father stay behind, choosing Bato to come in his stead instead. He couldn't bear it if his father was killed…it was bad enough Katara was leading the Waterbenders of the Northern Water Tribe.
He almost laughed, for the men who had followed their Tribe's traditions so seamlessly now followed a fifteen year old girl into battles of life and death. Yes, she was a Waterbending Master, but still only a young lady. Times were changing, and Sokka decided that he liked it.
Once he chose his warriors of the Southern Water Tribe, he turned to Suki's Kyoshi Warriors, Batu and Karida. He wasn't quite sure what to say to them. "Your Master is no longer with us. Will you be joining in the battle…or will you return to Kyoshi Island?" he asked carefully.
He didn't want the girls to think that he did not want them there, because he did. They reminded him of Suki, when they wore their uniforms. It was almost like she lived on in them. They certainly possessed her fighting spirit.
Karida spoke up: "We left our sister warriors in Ba Sing Se to accompany Suki to Omashu. We will go back to Ba Sing Se, as that was our previous mission."
"When we reunite with our sisters, we will decide, as a family, what our next move will be." Batu added.
Sokka nodded. "I understand. But know that you two are always welcome within my army. And my family." He bowed slightly to them.
They returned with a bow of respect. "Let us avenge Suki's death together." Karida announced.
"Yes," Sokka murmured, "Lets."
THE JOURNEY TO Ba Sing Se was an uneventful one, but also was wrought with worry. Katara's army, Haru's army, and Sokka's army all followed faithfully and loyally. They all rode in silence, and the tension was thick as Ba Sing Se's walls loomed in the not so far distance.
Many opened their mouths to wail for they could see smoke curling into the air from within Ba Sing Se's walls, and a Fire Nation flag was proudly draped over what was left of the outer wall.
Zuko grit his teeth, his eyes narrowing. He turned his stead, and looked at the army he and his friends had assembled. "Attack and kill as many Fire Nation soldiers as possible. Your leaders and I will get to the root of this problem." He announced loudly and clearly.
He nodded to Mai, Ty Lee, Katara, Haru, Sokka, Jet, Toph, and Aang. They all nodded curtly in return, and they raced full throttle to the destroyed walls of Ba Sing Se. as they raced to the once impenetrable city, arrows flung at them with deadly precision.
Jet cried out in agony as he was struck in his left breast. Ty Lee halted her ostrich-horse, riding to his side. "Jet, are you alright?!" she asked, worried.
"Go on, they need you." He clutched his wound, breaking off the end of the arrow.
Ty Lee whimpered softly, but did as Jet told her. He was right; she would be needed when it came time to confront Azula. "Don't die." She pleaded as she left to rejoin the others.
Fear filled Ty Lee she realized that it was the Yu Yan Archers who were firing into the Omashu Army. Miraculously Zuko and Mai entered the city's walls unharmed. But then again, Azula might have given orders to them to be unharmed, so she could personally see to their deaths. That seemed like something she'd do.
Toph hurled the broken city's walls at the Archers, crowing with glee when she disabled a good number of them. With the barrage of arrows slowing, the Omashu Army was able to flocked Ba Sing Se and enter into hand to hand combat.
Fire Nation soldiers attacked ruthlessly, flames devouring all the farmland they were fighting upon.
Katara screamed at her Benders to damper the flames as Haru's Benders attacked the men of the Fire Nation. Aang helped wherever he could, because his air was useless in this particular battle.
Suddenly and without warning, earth backfired on them, injuring many. They looked up to see a bunch of uniformed men.
"The Dai Li…" Mai gasped, throwing her fletched arrows at them without hesitation.
Toph, having heard Mai's exclamation, felt enraged. Those traitorous, scum! They betrayed their own nation…for what? A seat at Azula's right hand?
Haru groaned, attempting to pick himself up from the Dai Li's attack. He winched when he realized that he had broken one of his arms. He briefly wondered if he could try to Earthbend with such an injury and cried out in pain when he tried.
Sen Su was by his side immediately. "Get shelter, Haru." He urged him desperately.
Haru shook his head. "I can't leave Katara…and the others…" he protested weakly, the pain overwhelming him.
"What use are you to her dead?" Sen Su questioned. He shoved Haru a little less than gently. "Go to the bunker just outside of Ba Sing Se. The healers of the Earth Kingdom and Northern Water Tribe are there."
"But Kat-" he continued to argue.
"Go Haru! I'll see to it she's safe." Sen Su promised his general.
Haru, trusting Sen Su to keep his word, retreated to the medical bunker.